1852

    Franklin Pierce was elected president, Harriet Beecher Stowe published Uncle Tom's Cabin, Stephen Foster published "My Old Kentucky Home," and Elisha Otis invented the passenger elevator. Horse drawn fire engines are invented by Alexander Latta and Massachusetts passed the first school attendance law, requiring all children 8 to 14 to be in school at least 12 weeks a year, and the Boston Public Library was founded.

    This year, Henri Giffard made a successful flight in a steam powered airship, the French voted for a monarchy, the British recognized the independence of Transvaal in South Africa, and safety matches were invented in Sweden.

    The mint struck and delivered 5,063,094 large cents this year. Twenty different varieties of large cent are known for this date (N 1, N 3 – N 8, N 10 – N 112, N 14 – N 18, and N 20 – N 24). One variety, N 24, was struck as proofs only. Half cents dated 1852 were struck only as proofs. There is no record of how many were struck. Restrikes of these coins were made in the late 1850’s and early 1860’s. Restrikes come with either large or small berries on the reverse.

    The nicest coins in the national numismatic collection for this year include C 1, N 1, and N-16.

Half Cent

C 1

Large Cents

N 1

N 5

N 7

N 10

N 15

N 16

N 17 (1)

N 17 (2)

N 18